Dr. Sally Hodson (author), Ann Jones (illustrator)

Publisher: Dawn PublicationsISBN: 9781584692317

Just imagine - you are a young orca whale. Your special friends are two cousins and your 100 year-old great grandmother, the clan leader. You learn to play with them, face danger with them, hunt with them - and even go people-watching with them! Based on actual orca, or killer whale, research, this book combines science with the real story of how family, friendship, and a grandmother's love are helping this magnificent but endangered orca clan to survive.

Cindy Neuschwander (author)Wayne Geehan (illustrator)

Publisher: CharlesbridgeISBN: 9781607341321

Join Sir Cumference and the gang for more wordplay, puns, and problem solving in the clever math adventure about place-value and counting by tens. Sir Cumference and Lady Di planned a surprise birthday party for King Arthur, but they didn’t expect so many guests to show up. How many lunches will they need? And with more guests arriving by the minute, what about dinner? Sir Cumference and Lady Di count guests by tens, hundreds, and even thousands to help young readers learn place-value. Fans will love this new installment of the Sir Cumference series that makes math fun and accessible for all.

Carole Gerber (author)Leslie Evans (illustrator)

Publisher: CharlesbridgeISBN: 9781607345756

Spring is in the air—and in the trees! Spring is here, and with the new season come trees full of life, color. . .and blossoms! From the creators of Leaf Jumpers and Winter Trees, Spring Blossoms introduces readers to a variety of different flowering trees. During a stroll through the forest, two children come across the small and white flowers on a crab apple tree, the rich, red buds on a red maple, and many more. Along the way, readers learn that some trees have both male and female flowers—each with a distinctive appearance. Back matter includes extended botanical facts and more information about trees and their life cycles.Told in lyrical rhymes with beautiful linoleum-cut illustrations, Spring Blossoms offers a unique blend of science, poetry, and art studies.

Julie Danneberg (author)Judy Love (illustrator)

Publisher: CharlesbridgeISBN: 9781607347170

Sarah Jane Hartwell and her class are back. After the stress of her last attempt at taking her class on a field trip (seen in First Year Letters), Mrs. Hartwell has a plan for an upcoming trip to the zoo—a plan that includes a lot of rules. Her students prove that they can line up straight, walk quietly, and take plenty of notes, but everyone soon realizes that this field trip isn’t as much fun as they’d hoped. Mrs. Hartwell rethinks her plan and saves the day.

Susan Lendroth (author) Bob Kolar (illustrator)

Publisher: CharlesbridgeISBN: 9781580897440

This musical mission to Mars will have young astronauts talking--and singing--about the science of space travel. Explore the science behind a trip to Mars, from launch to landing on the Red Planet. Set to the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell," this jaunty journey follows five adorable, bobble-headed astronauts as they learn how to bathe in zero gravity, grow veggies in space, and entertain themselves on the six-month trip. Even the design of the book defies gravity, as text and art float free on the page, encouraging readers to turn the book sideways and upside-down. An interactive, innovative approach to interstellar fun

Julie Danneberg (author) Caitlin Heimerl (illustrator)

Publisher: CharlesbridgeISBN: 9781607344544

In November 1885, impressionist painter Claude Monet vacationed in Étretat, France, where he spent his days outside, painting scenes of the seaside village. One morning he rose early and carried all of his supplies and half-finished paintings out to the cliffs and rocky beach, finally stopping to paint the arch called Manneporte. Eager to capture the scene before him, and aware that he must work quickly to catch the light, Monet became so engrossed in his work that he forgot to watch the incoming tide. Based on a true incident, MONET PAINTS A DAY introduces readers to the life and nature of this illustrious impressionist. Interspersed throughout the story are excerpts from the painter’s notes and letters, while a second layer of text and back matter includes information about Impressionism as a whole. Lush watercolor illustrations in the Impressionist style give readers a visual for this artistic movement. A bibliography is also included.

Jackie Mims Hopkins (author) Craig J. Spearing (illustrator)

Publisher: CharlesbridgeISBN: 9781607341888

Take a tour of the Lone Star State. From King Ranch to the Alamo on through the capital city of Austin, explore historical sites, learn about the people who helped Texas develop, and discover the natural beauty of this dynamic state.Revised and re-illustrated, OUR TEXAS (originally TUMBLEWEED TOM ON THE TEXAS TRAIL) takes readers on a tour of the cities and wilderness of this larger-than-life state.

Barry Wittenstein (author) Chris Hsu (illustrator)

Publisher: CharlesbridgeISBN: 9781580897457

Did you know Band-Aids were invented by accident?! And that they weren't mass-produced until the Boy Scouts gave their seal of approval? 1920s cotton buyer Earle Dickson worked for Johnson & Johnson and had a klutzy wife who often cut herself. The son of a doctor, Earle set out to create an easier way for her to bandage her injuries. Band-Aids were born, but Earle's bosses at the pharmaceutical giant weren't convinced, and it wasn't until the Boy Scouts of America tested Earle's prototype that this ubiquitous household staple was made available to the public. Soon Band-Aids were selling like hotcakes, and the rest is boo-boo history.

Sandra Markle (author) Fabricio VandenBroeck (illustrator)

Publisher: CharlesbridgeISBN: 9781607348405

Elephants never forget. During a drought in Tanzania, Grandma Elephant is in search of water for her herd. Little Calf follows along and mimics her grandmother at each stop on their journey. When Grandma leads them to a watering hole she recalls from before, the elephants are overjoyed and Little Calf splashes about with her tender leader. Grandma's persistence and powerful memory is something Little Calf will never forget. Based on true events. Sandra Markle’s acclaimed nonfiction writing takes on a more lyrical style alongside Fabricio VandenBroeck’s gorgeous illustrations making this story of animal behavior accessible for younger readers. Back matter includes further information about the phenomenon of a herd of elephants that survived a drought, as well as fascinating elephant facts.

Anna McQuinn (author) Rosalind Beardshaw (illustrator)

Publisher: CharlesbridgeISBN: 9781607344414

Lovable Lola is back in this imaginative sequel to the best-selling LOLA AT THE LIBRARY. Lola loves to go to the library with her daddy. Every night she reads a new story, and the next day, she acts it out. One day she's a fairy princess, the next day she goes on a trip to Lagos! She becomes a tiger, a farmer, a pilot...what will Lola be next? Children and adults will love following along with Lola's adventures. LOLA LOVES STORIES celebrates imaginative thinking and the importance of books as a way to inspire young minds.

Anna McQuinn (author) Rosalind Beardshaw (illustrator)

Publisher: CharlesbridgeISBN: 9781607345534

We all know how much Lola loves books. In this third book in the Lola series (LOLA AT THE LIBRARY and LOLA LOVES STORIES), Lola has a new baby brother and she can’t wait to share her love of reading with him. Lola gets ready for little Leo’s arrival by reading books about brothers and sisters and picking out the perfect stories that she just knows her little brother will love. Even when her mom’s tummy gets "bigger and bigger," and even when she’s tired, Mom makes sure there is time for Lola and her stories. When the baby is finally here, Lola takes on the role of big sister - she helps her mommy and daddy around the house and tells Leo stories to cheer him up when he cries. LOLA READS TO LEO proves that it’s never too early to become a reader!

David Biedrzycki (author)

Publisher: CharlesbridgeISBN: 9781580896641

Breaking News: Bear Alert, told as a breaking TV news report is here! Two bears awaken from hibernation and go to town — literally. During their visit, they eat at a diner, dress up at a department store, and stop a couple of bank robbers, all the while mistaking the townspeople’s terror for friendliness. The news-reporting-style of storytelling puts readers in the action and on the edge of their seats. Illustrations jam-packed with puns, clues, and jokes will have the whole family or classroom laughing out loud and eager to find out what happens next — will the bears terrorize the town? Will the cat burglars be caught? Will the city come to a grinding halt? Tune in to find out. We now return you to your regularly scheduled day.

Lois G. Grambling (author) Judy Love (illustrator)

Publisher: CharlesbridgeISBN: 9781607346395

Will a young boy convince the mayor of New York City to let him bring his friend—a saber-toothed cat—to the Big Apple? An imaginative narrative brings readers to iconic New York landmarks, as Saber shows Ms. Mayor just how helpful a feline friend can be. A humorous follow-up to Can I Bring Woolly to the Library, Ms. Reeder? and Can I Bring My Pterodactyl to School, Ms. Johnson?

David Biedrzycki (author)

Publisher: CharlesbridgeISBN: 9781580898041

Bears in space! The bears from Breaking News: Bear Alert and Bears to the Rescue are back, and this time they're extraterrestrial. When a UFO beams up Baby Bear and abducts the family, the human world goes crazy. Hilarity and chaos ensue as scouts, scientists, street vendors, and the mayor try to put their own spin on the story. Intrepid but bumbling reporter Chad Newsworthy covers it all, searching for the truth: Why did aliens snatch up these animals? (Hint: It's someone special's birthday!)

Lois G. Grambling (author) Judy Love (illustrator)

Publisher: CharlesbridgeISBN: 9781607340744

Once upon a time there was a boy who presented a well-thought out proposal for his teacher, Ms. Johnson, convincing her that bringing a pterodactyl to school would be a good idea. The boy is back, and this time he has several reasons why bringing a woolly mammoth to the library would be advantageous to the librarian, Ms. Reeder, and the library’s patrons.

David Biedrzycki (author)

Publisher: CharlesbridgeISBN: 9781607348245

A missing cub, a carnival, and a gang of cat burglars…hold on to your hats! Best-selling author David Biedrzycki brings back the hilarious bears from Breaking News: Bear Alert, but now they have sleepy bear cub in tow. When the cub goes missing Mama and Papa Bear go on the hunt. Their search takes them to the town carnival where the whole family rides the Ferris wheel, rocks the rollercoaster, and inadvertently foils another dastardly plot by the persistent cat burglars from Bear Alert. Covering the story is intrepid — but bumbling — reporter Chad Newsworthy and the rest of the crew at Channel 3 News.

Anna McQuinn (author) Rosalind Beardshaw (illustrator)

Publisher: CharlesbridgeISBN: 9781580897365

Lola wants a cat, but Mommy says taking care of a pet is a lot of work. So Lola does her homework. At the library she finds books about cats and pet care and she and Mommy learn as much as they can. She pretends her stuffed kitty is real and practices taking care of it. When the time comes, Lola is allowed to pick out her new friend at an animal shelter. With patience and care, her kitten settles in at home. Lola is a book-loving favorite, and this delightful story is a new treasure in the series.

Susan Wood (author) Duncan Tonatiuh (illustrator)

Publisher: CharlesbridgeISBN: 9781607348269

Juan Garcia Esquivel was born in Mexico and grew up to the sounds of mariachi bands. He loved music and became a musical explorer. Defying convention, he created music that made people laugh and planted images in their minds. Juan’s space-age lounge music - popular in the fifties and sixties - has found a new generation of listeners. And Duncan Tonatiuh’s fresh and quirky illustrations bring Esquivel’s spirit to life.

Katherine Blanc (author) Jeffrey Ebbeler (illustrator)

Publisher: CharlesbridgeISBN: 9781580897143

Meet young Melvin (the future Mel Blanc of Looney Tunes fame) as he drives everyone a little nuts with the noisy soundtrack to his day-to-day life. Melvin is an imaginative and noisy little boy who grows up to be Mel Blanc, Looney Tunes cartoon character pioneer and the voice behind Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Woody Woodpecker, the Tasmanian Devil, and so many more familiar personalities. Readers are treated to a typical day for young Melvin, when ordinary tasks like getting ready for school, riding the bus, and completing his chores are charged with sound effects and accompanied by his own personal soundtrack. His knack for making funny noises and using the versatility of his voice was like no other - much to the relief of his teachers. Penned by Blanc's daughter-in-law, this first-person fiction-based-in-reality story is a fun romp and is sure to inspire young readers to turn trouble into triumph!

David Biedrzycki (author)

Publisher: CharlesbridgeISBN: 9781607343097

Dragon lovers will jump at the chance to see what raising a friendly dragon just might look like in this hilarious read aloud about a boy and his pet. While dragons may not be the most traditional of pets, the boy explains how his dragon, Sparky, would be the perfect pet and pal. He details tips for how to pick a dragon, what to do when your dragon misbehaves, and what NOT to feed them (broccoli). Clever and wry text paired with bright and comedic illustrations will make Me and My Dragon a storytime favorite for kids and adults alike.

Anna McQuinn (author) Rosalind Beardshaw (illustrator)

Publisher: CharlesbridgeISBN: 9781580896955

Readers who loved Lola at the Library, Lola Loves Stories, and Lola Reads to Leo are in for a backyard treat. After Lola reads a book of garden poems, she wants to plant some flowers. She gets books from the library and chooses her plants. Then Lola and her mommy buy the seeds, make the garden, and mark the rows. Now it's time to wait...

Mike Ornstein (author) Kevin M. Barry (illustrator)

Publisher: Sleeping Bear PressISBN: 9781534126374

Yo ho ho! It's the first day of kindergarten. Just imagine all the fun things to learn and experience! And who better than a pirate captain to drive the bus to school? He's ready to share all the rules one needs to know to ride the bus and to get along with mates at school. But with the anticipation of the first day of school there also comes a bit of anxiety. And it turns out that being a big, blustery pirate captain is no guarantee against feeling insecure and a little frightened in strange and uncomfortable situations. Who can help a rough and tough pirate captain get over his fears and back to driving the school bus? Using humor and pirate-speak, Kindergarrrten Bus addresses some of the concerns and anxiety that many children feel on their first day of school or at the start of any new undertaking.

Denise Brennan-Nelson (author)Marco Bucci (illustrator)

Publisher: Sleeping Bear PressISBN: 9781534123014

Even the forest has to sleep! This sweet walk through the forest says good night to flora and fauna alike, from the quiet bunny to the howling coyote. With silly, colorful illustrations and soft rhyme that is sure to lull littles ones off to sleep, this will be a favorite bedtime pick.